Brazil election goes to run-off as Flávio Bolsonaro leads Lula

Flávio Bolsonaro won the first round of Brazil’s presidential election, taking 47.03% of the vote to incumbent President Lula da Silva’s 45.16% with 99% of ballots counted. Neither candidate passed the 50% threshold needed to win outright, so the two will meet in a run-off on 25 October.

What happens now in Brazil’s presidential election?

Lula had polled slightly ahead during the campaign, with both candidates near 40% going into Sunday’s vote, but the first-round result exceeded expectations for Flávio Bolsonaro. Other right-wing presidential candidates were knocked out in the first round, and his Liberal Party elected the most governors, senators and federal deputies in the results so far, making it the party expected to hold the most influence in Congress.

Who is Flávio Bolsonaro?

Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is a senator and the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for masterminding a failed coup attempt after losing the last election. Jair Bolsonaro was barred from running again and endorsed his son in his place. Jair Bolsonaro’s wife, Michelle, was elected to the Senate on Sunday. Flávio Bolsonaro has pledged to grant amnesty to his father and to supporters jailed over the vandalism of government buildings on 8 January 2023.

What did Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro say after the vote?

Lula, 80, said the outcome was “unexpected”. “I admit I was convinced I would win in the first round,” he said. “The game is about to start. We are in extra time. In extra time, we will win over the Brazilian people.” After casting his ballot he framed the choice as one between democracy and “barbarism”. Flávio Bolsonaro said he was “very happy” to have led the first-round vote and saw a “real possibility” that Brazil would choose a “modern government” three weeks from now.

Why does the result matter beyond Brazil?

The majority of Latin America has now elected right-wing presidents aligned to the Trump administration, and the run-off will determine whether Brazil, Latin America’s largest country and economy, follows suit. A Flávio Bolsonaro win would likely see Brazil join the US “Shield of Americas” coalition against narco-trafficking, although he has pledged to maintain an “economically pragmatic” relationship with China, which has overtaken the US as Brazil’s biggest trading partner.

What role did corruption and foreign interference claims play?

Corruption became a key campaign issue after a scandal involving jailed banker Daniel Vorcaro, who orchestrated one of Brazil’s largest financial frauds. Flávio Bolsonaro acknowledged he had asked Vorcaro to bankroll a biopic about his father after voice recordings emerged in which he could be heard requesting 134 million reais ($25.9m). Lula was affected indirectly after police suggested Vorcaro had reached out to Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes to ask for help avoiding arrest; Moraes denies wrongdoing. The president of Brazil’s supreme electoral court said on Sunday that no evidence of international interference was found in the election.

Frequently asked questions

When is Brazil’s presidential run-off?

It is scheduled for 25 October, between Flávio Bolsonaro and Lula da Silva, after neither candidate passed the 50% needed to win in the first round.

What percentage of the vote did each candidate get?

With 99% of votes counted, Flávio Bolsonaro had 47.03% and incumbent President Lula da Silva had 45.16%.

Who is Flávio Bolsonaro?

He is a 45-year-old senator and the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for masterminding a failed coup attempt after the 2022 election.

Was there evidence of foreign interference in Brazil’s election?

The president of Brazil’s supreme electoral court said on Sunday that no evidence of international interference was found in the vote.

With reporting from BBC News.

Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)